State Land Board approves land sale rules, land donation at public meeting

Former Coos County commissioner addresses board

Salem – Administrative rules were adopted by the Land Board Tuesday, allowing in-house appraisals of land valued under $100,000. Such appraisals will be conducted by the Department of State Lands' certified appraiser. The move will reduce costs for proposed land sales of lower-performing lands.

The board also accepted a donation of .75 acres of residential land near Yachats, Oregon. The property will become an asset of the Common School Fund, and is worth approximately $10,000-$15,000.

The informational agenda included four reports: the Department of Forestry annual report on Common School forestlands; the FY 2012 land management report; an update on in-lieu land selections; and information on the fall 2012 land sale.

Gordon Ross, who served for 15 years as a Coos County commissioner, provided public comment at the meeting. "The Land Board appreciates the perspective of Oregon citizens, and their willingness to travel to our meetings to provide us with information," said Secretary of State Kate Brown, who chaired the meeting in Gov. Kitzhaber's absence.

The State Land Board consists of Governor John Kitzhaber, Secretary of State Kate Brown and State Treasurer Ted Wheeler. The Department of State Lands administers diverse natural and fiscal resources. Many of the resources generate revenue for the Common School Fund, such as state-owned rangelands and timberlands, waterway leases, estates for which no will or heirs exist, and unclaimed property. Twice a year, the agency distributes fund investment earnings to support K-12 public schools. The agency also administers Oregon's Removal-Fill Law, which requires people removing or filling certain amounts of material in waters of the state to obtain a permit.